Post-Game Notes: Penn State
11/27/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 27, 2010
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With the win, Michigan State...
• claims its seventh Big Ten title in school history (1953, 1965, 1966, 1978, 1987, 1990, 2010).
• becomes the all-time winningest team in program history with 11 wins. The Spartans won 10 games in 1965 and 1999.
• claims its first victory at Beaver Stadium since a 23-0 victory in 1965, snapping an eight-game losing streak, and wins its first game in State College since Joe Paterno took over as Penn State's head coach.
• finishes the Big Ten season with a 7-1 record. It marks the first time MSU has won seven Big Ten games since going 7-0-1 in 1987. MSU has won seven Big Ten games five times in program history (7-0 in 1965, 7-0 in 1966, 7-1 in 1978, 7-0-1 in 1987, 7-1 in 2010).
Coach Dantonio notes...
• Coach Dantonio becomes the fifth Spartan coach to win a Big Ten title (Biggie Munn in 1953; Duffy Daugherty in 1965 and 1966; Darryl Rogers in 1978; George Perles in 1987 and 1990).
• Dantonio improves his four-year record at MSU to 33-18...the 33 wins are the most by any Spartan coach in his first four seasons.
• Under Dantonio, the Spartans are 9-3 in games played in November. In the four seasons prior to his arrival, Michigan State went just 2-11. The Spartans went 3-0 this November (vs. Minnesota, Purdue and Penn State), posting its first perfect November since 1999 (vs. Ohio State, Northwestern and Penn State).
Player notes...
• Eric Gordon started his 48th career game on Saturday vs. Penn State, setting a new school record for starts in a career previously held by former tight end Chris Baker, who started 47 consecutive games from 1998-2001.
• Edwin Baker recorded his fifth-yard game of the season with 118 yards on 28 carries (4.2 avg.)...he scored his 13th rushing touchdown of the season with a 7-yard run in the first quarter.
• Kirk Cousins completed 17-of-22 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns...he now has 20 touchdowns this season, which ties for fourth most in a Spartan season...his 41 career TDs are sixth most in MSU history.
• Keith Nichol threw a 13-yard TD pass to Charlie Gantt in the fourth quarter, Nichol's first TD pass since throwing a 71-yard TD to Keshawn Martin in last year's Penn State game...it marked Nichol's eight career passing TD.
• Michigan State's tight ends combined for eight catches for 80 yards...Gantt tied a career high with four receptions for 38 yards and a TD, while Brian Linthicum also tied his career high with four catches for 42 yards.
• B.J. Cunningham caught two TD passes in a single game for the first time in his career...he had a 8-yard TD reception in the second quarter and a 24-yard score in the third quarter...Cunningham's nine TD receptions this year tie Blair White for fourth most in an MSU single-season...Cunningham's 13 career TD receptions are tied for 10th most in MSU history.
• Trenton Robinson led MSU with seven tackles and recorded his team-leading fourth interception of the season...he also had a pass break-up and finished the regular season with 12 passes defended (four interceptions, eight PBUs).
• Johnny Adams recorded a career-high two pass break-ups and had six tackles.
• Chris L. Rucker recorded a career-high three pass break-ups, forced a fumble and had five tackles.
• Colin Neely tied his season high with five tackles, including two tackles for loss (11 yards).
Team notes...
• MSU held Penn State to 84 yards rushing, marking the fifth time this season the Spartan defense has held their opponent under 100 yards rushing (Western Michigan, Florida Atlantic, Notre Dame, Minnesota, Penn State).
• MSU was 3-of-3 scoring in the red zone...for the season, the Spartans are 39-of-43 (91 percent) scoring in the red zone this season.
• MSU held a 34:03-25:57 advantage in time of possession...MSU is 8-0 this season and 23-3 under Dantonio when leading in time of possession.
• The Spartans posted a season-high nine pass break-ups.
